There are some large scale automatic fodder solutions around, which are suitable for farming and livestock, which gave us our inspiration.

Why do this? Store bought poultry mix is expensive, around $30 for 40kg and lasts about 3weeks depending on the amount of chooks, vs $27 for 40kg of barley, which sprouted like this, a 40kg bag should last over a year.

It’s not meant to replace other feed, but supplement it with fresh green barley sprouts.

Barley seems to be the grain of choice as it contains a lot of goodness, and when sprouted it is even more beneficial, and fermented even better, wink wink :]

The wildlife forced us to make a fully caged compound to sprout the grain, and since doing this it has grown very well.

Barley roots are very vigourous and grow bigger than the tops, so not much soil or mulch is need as the roots support everything by creating a mat at the base.

We have used pots with a small amount of soil, then add the grain and a sprinkle of mulch over the top, mainly to retain moisture.

The grain is sprouted in about 3 days and is a lush green by about 1-2 weeks, just throw the whole lot to the chooks and they do the rest.

The pots are starting to seem a bit small, so are trialling old styrofoam vegie boxs for now. The compound should be able to fit about 7 boxs in it, so a replanting every three days or so should produce a steady amount of fodder.

The compound is simply an old metal bed frame with legs welded on it and wire wrapped around, should keep the swamp hens and wildlife out :]

We will update with photos of the system soon.

Australia Day tomorrow, 26th January 2010.

Ignorant bliss, beer, bbq’s, tattoos, flags, long weekends, sickies, media blackouts and more.

I’m not one to pay much attention to the usual crap the media of our time puts out or hopes/expects us to pay attention to. It’s just a vehicle for advertising so if they can attract the most attention by helping the average aussie battler live the dream of a beer in one hand and a snagger in the other then jobs done, take that sickie and have that long weekend.

I suppose it just seems ironic listening to the media’s spin on patriotism, when theres a part of the population, the original caretakers, indiginous Australians, the ones that care at least, and emphasizers,  for which this day must be an insult and a complete joke.

No suprise its called invasion day or survival day. This seems to be a common thread throughout humanity, and it will probably have had to be inevitable one way or the other.

Maybe the best we can learn from all this is to listen to those that want to speak, the best we can hope for is to move on, accepting where we are now. The future can only be what we make it.

The best part of all is, its a free country and a public holiday. So go see some live blues, drink some local beer, swim at a great local beach, blow the club budget on a bbq at a winery, do whatever you want and have a good time.

Have a drink for me, I gotta work :/

Here you’ll find info about our various projects around home and the farm.

In overcoming day to day problems, solutions and options are created and shared.

Usually there is no one answer to our daily problems, but a number of possibilities each with there own potential and intricacies.

‘The most elegant solutions are often the simplest’ – quote unknown

‘Relax, have a homebrew” – Charlie Papazian, author ‘The new complete joy of Home Brewing’